We received a tip late last week that Fresh to Order employees were saying that they would be opening this weekend, but we couldn’t confirm. But a look yesterday revealed a patio of patrons and lights galore.

Looks like the report was right! Fresh to Order is now open in the old Decatur Diner space at East Ponce and Church Street across from Leon’s.

The new Mexican restaurant that’s taking the place of the Decatur Diner at the corner of East Ponce and Church Street is called “Hola Mexican Cantina”, according to its liquor license application on the agenda for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting yet.

Mike Brosius, who many in Atlanta will know as the man behind multiple successful linen businesses, is getting back into the restaurant business. Brosius, who in 1992 started Omni Linen, later sold it and started Blockbuster Linen which he in turn sold and started Go! Hospitality which he in turn sold, which he sold this past fall. As the name Go! Hospitality suggests, the business caters to the hospitality industry. Clearly Brosius has a knack for the linen business, but he and his wife Lauri also opened a total of four Cinco Mexican Cantina eateries before selling them. All four of the Cinco eateries were rather far out in locales such as Alpharetta, Cumming, Suwanee and in Smyrna at Akers Mill.

Dave reported in this morning to say that Decatur Diner was closed and that there were reports of another restaurant taking its place. Can’t confirm that, but another Dave followed up this afternoon with this photo and stated…

Closed sign on door. Door open, lights off.

What’s up?

UPDATE: The Schmacher group has announced the sale on its website. It reads in part…

This business was just sold in October but new absentee owner has no full service experience and not capable of growing or manage business thus reason for sale. This is one of the hottest corners in all of Metro Atlanta with incredible visibility, frontage hi traffic car and foot traffic at the intersection of Church and Ponce.

Decatur Diner located at 205 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030-3405 at Church Street in the heart of Downtown Decatur. This business was just sold in October but new absentee owner has no full service experience and not able to grow or manage business thus reason for sale. This is one of the hottest corners in all of Metro Atlanta with incredible visibility, frontage hi traffic car and foot traffic at the intersection of Church and Ponce.